Chapter 4
Developing Paragraphs
Features of a Paragraph
Analysis of Sample 1
a central idea supporting evidence close connection
Features of a Paragraph
Features of a Paragraph
Topic sentence
A good topic sentence:
1) a. We went to the show last night.
① new information b. We Has had a terrible time at the show last night.
Features of a Paragraph
Topic sentence
We now have, as a result of modern means of communication, hundreds of thousands of words flung at us daily. We are constantly being talked at, by teachers, preachers, salesmen, public officials, and motion picture soundtracks. The cries of advertisers pursue us into our very homes, thanks to the radio—and in some houses the radio is never turned off from morning to night. Daily the newsboy brings us, in large cities, from thirty to fifty enormous pages of print, and almost three times that amount on Sunday. We go out and get more words at bookstores and libraries. Words fill our lives.
Exercise
A. in addition B. for example C. in fact D. also E. furthermore Teachers of foreign languages should be extremely well-qualified in order to carry out their duties properly. ___(1)__, a teacher should possess a minimum of a graduate degree from a certified education school or institute if he is to teach high school or below. Besides the academic degree, teachers should not consider teaching only as an occupation for earning money; they should __(2)__ be interested in teaching. ___(3)___, it was necessary that teachers be knowledgeable in their major fields. They should be skillful as well. _(4)__, the language teacher must know the target language well enough to be imitated by his students. Proficiency in the target language includes fours skills: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing. A teacher should know the linguistic facts of the language of the students in order to understand the problems they will have in learning the target language. __(5)__, the teacher must be familiar with audio-lingual techniques. Knowing all this will help the students to learn correctly and quickly.
(1) Topic: Black-and White Movies Topic sentence:_____________ (2) Topic: Capital Punishment Topic sentence:______________
(3) Topic: Rap Music Topic sentence:_____________ (4) Topic: Horror Movies Topic sentence:______________
Features a Paragraph
Topic sentence
Write your own topic sentence for each of the following topics. Make sure each sentence expresses a particular point about the topic. ○ Topic: Night Classes Topic sentence: I prefer taking night classes to day classes to fit my work schedules.
Read Sample3 and find the central idea.
An effective paragraph must have a central idea,
which may be expressed either explicity in a topic
sentence or implicitly.
③ Is general enough to invite exploration of the topic
④ strong b. OurIs aunt visited us for three weeks last summer.
4) a. I had first date with Clarence last spring. ⑤ Ismy not an announcement b. My first date with Clarence last spring was a disaster.
2) a. Norris is the brightest student in our biology class. ② Is specific b. Norris is enrolled in a biology class. 3) a. The longest three weeks of my life were when our aunt visited last summer.
Features of a Paragraph
Transition
I’ve had a real problem with my car leaking oil on the driveway I’ve had a real problem with my car leaking oil on the lately. First, there’s a pool of oil two thirds of the way up on both driveway lately. There’s a pool of oil two thirds of the way up on sides of the driveway. There’s another pool of oil inside the garage both sides of the driveway. There’s a pool of oil inside the garage where I park the car. After I clean the oil up. The next day it’s back where I park the car. I clean the oil up. The next day it’s back again. Finally, I took the car to a garage to have the oil changed again. I took the car to a garage to have the oil changed and the and the leak topped. However, the problem was more difficult leak topped. The problem was more difficult than I’d expected. than I’d expected. The rear main bearing seal was leaking, but to The rear main bearing seal was leaking, but to replace it, the replace it, the engine would have to be pulled. I couldn’t afford that, engine would have to be pulled. I couldn’t afford that, so I had to so I had to wait and save up some money. In the meantime, I put wait and save up some money. I put three oil pans on the spots three oil pans on the spots where the car leaks oil when it’s parked. where the car leaks oil when it’s parked. I can’t think of any I can’t think of any other solution for now. other solution for now.